Electric generator.



J. L. MILTON;

ELECTRIC GENERATOR- APPLIUATI/ON FILED mxamsos.

Patented may 31; 1910.

z'mm waver a J. L. MILTON. ELECTRIC GENERATOR. APPLI'cATIbN 141L311'M'AR.-22,1906. 959,954; r Patented ma 31, 1910.

magmas-sum z.-

j 7 srarss PATENT oration.

Jenn L. ILToN,f ,or CHICAGO, ILEINGIS, ASSIGNOR or NE-HALF T-O rownnn K,

WEBSTER, 6F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

" Erin-crate GENERATOR.

To all whom mag/concern:

I Be it known that I-,:J0HN L. MILTON, a "citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county ofCook and State of :Illmois, haveinvented certain new and use ful Improvements-in Electric Generators, of

.production. of sparks for charge-ignition purposes in rapid combustionand explosive engines, and the like.

The general and leading object of my invention is to increase theoperating and the productive efficiency of machines of this characterand at the same time to simplify the construction chines. p In thedrawings I have-illustrated practical embodiments of my invention inwhich, I I

Figure 1 is an elevation of one form of and operation of such madevice,in which only one magnet pole is provided with polar projections; Fig.is

a top plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is a sec ti on taken on themedianline 3-3 of 1;

Fig. 4 is an elevational View, similar to Fig.

1, of a'inodification.

In all of the viewslthe same numerals and letters of reference indicatesimilar-parts.

For the purpose stated the invention may :take the form of a'magneto-electric gen' orator, although the invention is apphca'ole toany type of dynamo-electric machine. In the embodiments illustrated, 1G1s pref-- .erably a soft iron pole-piece, and when Y nected to the manets it isof a given )Olfil" iolekpiecesfltl. and 11. are jor ed. andspa "vh or ot in-in'di'ictive-relation fpropcr'rclation by permane magflanthin si i-ilai 'c'oilsfi and inetslZan d 15-}, aconvenient or suit.shun H u' y ilcepositions ivit-lrreference to flier, beingplace'cl uponeither side of the polar projections 10?and 1'0".-"The code -ity,.an d11 is a. similar pole-piece and when so connected is of the oppositepolarity. in Fig. i the latter is shown provided vith twopolar-projections llf. and 11?. The conse;

ef pole-p ieces 10 and 11, forivhich ing very-little labor in theprocess of manufacturing, and, being so, they may he nrnily fixed to thepoles by means'of bolts 14, with- Spceifieation of Letters Patent.

Me J a,

v ntactsurfacesare 'exposed th, t' purpose. The magnets are'straight,requra' Eatented May 31, 1919.

1 Application filed March 22, 1936. Serial No. 307,331.

out being subjected thereby to unnatural strain, which, as is Wellknown, tends to demagnetize hard, so-called permanent magnets. "The endsof the magnets 12 and 13 of like polarity are fixed in contact with onepole-piece, the other ends being attached to the other pole-piece. Thisarrangement is indicated in the drawings, the bottom pole-piece 11 beingmarked positive or i-,

and the upper polc-piece 10 being marked negative. or The polarprojections are indicated by corresponding numerals with exponents a andh.

A shaft 1'1, which. may represent, for instance, the driven shaft of anexplosive engine, is properly supported upon ,;a bear- 111g 15. A.spider 16, navlng a split bearing,

is n'lounted on projection 15 of the fixed hearing 15 (Fig. 3), saidspider being an gularly adjustable on its support by means of the bolt17 (Figs. 1 and" 2), said spider being secured at the ends of its fourarms to the pole-pieces or their projections, whereby the magnetic fieldmay be adjusted singularly with reference to the engine shaft to vary sothe relative time and range of the sparking period, as more particularlyhereinafter described. An inductor or armature 18, shown in full lines,and also in dotted lines,

in Figs. 1 and 2, is fixed to the shaft by any 35 convenient means, aboss 1%}. and key 20 lc.ing shown for this purpose.

' In Fig. l the armature 18 is shown in full. lines as substantiallyclosing the magnetic circuit between pole-piece 10 andpolar pro- 0jcction 11. in the magnetic circuit is shown as substantially closed rthereby *ough polar projections 10 and 11 ien the armature is movedtodotted line position the magnetic circuit will. he closed therebythrough pole-piece 10 and polar progection 11 or pro ection 10 andPIOJQCUOH 3 l as the case may he.

lnj Fig. l, conducting coils 2i and 22 are e that the "electricalimpulses produced therem lar results. It is highly desirable if not 11 laround projections li -and 11", re-

may be connected in sucha" Way at he mutuallyreciprocal, and the coils22 practically essential, for the proper operation of the device, thatthe pole-pieces 10 and 11, their respective polar projections and theinductor 18, be composed of highly permeable, magnetically susceptiblemater1al,such as the best quality of soft wrou htiron which interposesthe smallest osslble reluctance to the magnetic flux, an which iscapable of losing substantially all of its magnetic effect whenuninfluenced directly by a magnetically polarized body, such forinstance, as one or more permanent magnets, electro-magnets, or thelike. The inductor 18 should approach as closely to the surfaces oftherespective poles, or polar projections, as mechanical conditions willpermit, to reduce the magnetic reluctance through the inductor 18 to theminimum, so as to increase the magnetic flux therethrough to themaximum.

The operation of the device is as follows: When the inductor 18 isrotated in the direction shown by the arrows, as it approaches theposition indicated in full lines, an impulse of electricity, in a givendirection, will e induced in coils 21 and 23, and when the inductorleaves said coils and approaches the dotted line position, anotherimpulse, but in the opposite direction, will be induced in said coils.Before the second impulse in coils 21 and 2 has died away, an impulsewill be set up in coils 22 and 24 in the same direction as the firstimpulse in coils 21 and 23, and then a second impulse in said lattercolls, 1n an opposite direction Wlll succeed the first.

The inductive effect, by which the electric impulses are produced in thecoils of insulated wire, is determined in a measure by the 'extenttowhich the magnetic density in the polar projections may be varied, andto some degree by the celerity with which the changes are accomplished.If the polar projections could be magnetically saturated within a giventime and then immediately discharged to zero, the induced electricimpulses described would reach the maximum effect. In other words, thegreatest electro; motive force capable ofbeing evolved with a. givenwinding is dependentupon the magneto-motive forces of the magnet.

hen the inductor occupies a substantially horizontal position in thecycle of rotation,- there will be a natural magnetic stress or strainexisting between the pole 10 (Fig. 1) or its projections 10 and 10 (Fig.4-), and the projections 11 and 11 at which time a certain number ofmagnetic lines of force will pass through said polar projections onaccount of the effort of the magnetto shortcircuit or close its polesthrough the intervening polar air space. Now, when the inductor arrivesin the position shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 4, the magnet will besubstantially short-circuited by the armature magnet, as described, themagnetic density of the rojectionll (Fig. 1) or projections 11* and 10(Fig. 4) will sink practically to zero. Now, when the armature 18reaches dotted line position, the entire number of magnetic lines offorce will switch around through polar projection 11*, the inductor 18and the pole 10 or polar projection 10; then the magnetic density of thepolar projections 11 and 10 will sink to practically zero. By this meansthe greatest variation of the density of magnetic lines of force isaccomplished; and the highest possible inductive effect is attained. Ifthe armature 18' be bodily reciprocated to approach or be brought intocontact with first one olar projection and then the other,'instea(i ofbeing rotated, or oscillated. practically the same effect will beaccomplished. I

angular adjustabillty of the field with reference to the rotatinginductor provides a 1 means whereby the time of generating theelectrical impulse ma y be advanced or varied with reference to theposition of-the piston, so that the time of ignition may becorrespondingly varied. The generator affords a wide range of sparkingperiod, so that the latter is not confined to a mere critical point winthe revolution, as in many generators of this general character.

For the foregoing reason, and because of the simplicity of the apparatusand the fact that ithas no wearing parts, it is especially adapted foruse on explosive and rapid combustion engines.

I have found in practice that a machine built substantially inaccordance with Fig. 1, but with only one coil, such as coil 22,produces an electric current impulse sufficient for the purposehereinbefore described when moved at a comparatively justablcvmembermounted on said support,

less than the shortest distance between said pole-pieces but greaterthan the distance between the adjacent sides of said polar-projections,whereby at certain intervals the inductor opens the magnetic path of thefield and at other intervals establishes two substantially parallelpaths through said pole-pieces, an increase in reluctance in. one

of said paths being accompanied by a de-v crease in reluctance in theother path to pro-- ducegraduated variations of magnetic flux throughsaid winding during said last mentioned'intervals. I 1

2. In an inductor alternator, the combination of a suitable support, amagnetic field 7 structure provided with inwardly turned polarprojections, a winding on said field-structure, an unwound inductormovable within said field-structure in close proximity to said polarprojections to vary the magnetic flux througlt said winding,'an adand aconnection between said polar projections and adjustable member, wherebythe field-structure may be radially adjusted.

In an inductor-alternator for ignition purposes, the combination of afield-magnet structure comprising a pair of magnets having like polesjoined by pole-pieces provided with inwardly turned polar projections, asupporting member of non-magnetic material connected to the inner endsor said polar projections to support the field-structure, a bearing forsu japorting said nonmagnetic incmber, windings in inductive relation tosaid polar projections, and an unwound inductor rotatable between saidpolar projections to vary the magnetic flux through said windings.

4. In an .induct(Ir-alternator iorignition purposes, the combination oftwo parallel groups of permanent magnets, pole pie es in engagementwiththe ends of like polarity olj, said magnetspinwardly turned polarprojections :on said pole pieces, a bearing plate of noinmagneticmaterial connected at either side to the adjacent pole piece and havingcentral y disposed bearin with its axis at right angles to the plane ridpole pieces, a shaft rotatable in said bearing, an inductor cai d bysaid shaft and rotatable bctweensaio pole pieces to yary the distrihution of the magnetic fins: throw-h diametrically opposite polarprojectioi and windings in inductive relation to said pole pieces,

5. In an inductor-altcrnatonfor ignition purposes. the combination of apair of permanent straight-bar magnets arranged sub" stantially parallelto each other, pole pieces arranged between and in engagement with theends of lilce polarity of said magi'ect-angular frame, one of saidpole-pieces having a pair of inwardly turned polar projections, anunwound inductor movable in said frame between said pole-pieces, and awinding in inductive relation to one of said polar projections. 6. In aninductor-altcrmitor for ignition p'u "poses, the con'ibination of twogroups of permanent straight-bar magnets, the mag- 'netsoi each groupbeing arranged substantially parallel to each other, pole-piecesarranged between and in engagement with the ends of like polarity ofsaid magnets and forming therewith a substantially rectangular franie,one of said pole-pieces having a pair of inwardly turned polarprojections, an unwound inductor rotatable within said frame betweensaid polar projections and the pole-piece opposite thereto, and awinding arranged in inductive relation to one of said polar projectionsT. In an inductor-alternator for ignition purpos 3', the combination oftwo parallel groups of permanent straight-bar magnets, pole-piecesarranged between and in engagemeiit with the ends of like polarity ofsaid magnets and provided each with a plurality of inwardly turned polarprojections, a bearing plate of non-magnetic material connected ateither side to the adjacent polepiece and having a centrally disposedhearing with its axis at right angles to the plane coi ning saidpole-pieces, a shaft rotatable insaid l ring, an inductor carried bysaid shaft and arranged to 11love in the magnetic tield between saidp0le-pieces to, vary the distribution of the magnetic iux through .callyopposite polar projections, and wiiniings in inductive relation to saidpole-pieces.

8, in an inductonal urnator for ignition .n of a field-magnet iii. ofpermanent magnets, pole-pieces 101- c g poles of like polarity of saidmagnets-and provided with inwardly turned po ar projections, 21 Supporting piece of non-magnetic material. connected to the inner ends of,said polar preone, windings in inductive relation to c polarprojections, and an imwound inductor rotatalile, between the polarprojec- .Lions on the opposite pole-pieces.

,l, in an iinluctor-altcrnator tor ignition purposes, the combination ota field-magnetme come sing a pair of permanent in nets and formingtherewith a substantially porting and connecting pieoe of non-migsitepole-pieces, and windings in inductive netic material fixed to the innerends of said relation to said polar projections.

polar promotions a shaftextendin throu h T said connectin 1 )iece,'saidconnec ing pie oe JOHN MILTOL' being adjustab e on said shaft, anunwound Vitnesses:

inductor carried by the shaftand rotatable SAMUEL N. POND, between themolar promotions on the oppo- FREDERICK C. Goonwli;

